MSN Virtual Earth

[jphillips59]

Looks like Microsoft is making a competitor to Google maps. Launching this summer

The service is promised to provide:

Satellite images with 45-degree-angle views of buildings and neighborhoods

Satellite images with street map overlays

Ability to add local data layers, such as showing local businesses or restaurants

http://blogs.msdn.com/cthota/archive/2005/05/23/421114.aspx

Edited May 24, 2005 by Sietse

[jphillips59]

MSN Virtual Earth is what it going to be called....sorry

[Daniel Tablas]

Wow, that looks so good! I have a funny feeling about it though, I don't think it will look that good...and it don't think it's going to be free :unsure:

[Hypoxiaicon]

Wow, looks awesome.

[Mx]

Wow, looks awesome.

585961557[/snapback]

Yea :|

[KayMan2K]

Wow, that looks so good! I have a funny feeling about it though, I don't think it will look that good...and it don't think it's going to be free :unsure:

585961549[/snapback]

It will look that good... but only in popular urban areas. These systems are not 'satellite' images but rather taken from a survey helicopter. It takes a long while to photograph the whole USA + beyond!

Of course it will be free... but some features may only be accessible via a premium subscription (like downloading content to your PC, a 3D viewer, etc...) It has to be free to compete with Google Maps.

[Hurmoth]

Holy **** that looks awesome!

[Colin-uk Veteran]

Looks pretty good, probly wont cover the uk though..

[Daniel Tablas]

Of course it will be free... but some features may only be accessible via a premium subscription (like downloading content to your PC, a 3D viewer, etc...)  It has to be free to compete with Google Maps.

585961573[/snapback]

Yeah, you're right when you put it that way. It looks really cool, but it will take years to photograph USA, and Canada for example. :huh:

[HilariousNinja]

They might. The Uk is pretty damn small compared to the states of the US let alone the whole country.

[Elagizy]

Seems like NASA WorldWind

[jphillips59]

Hopefully we will see more useful use of these services....like this one that overlays crime data.

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/23/115204&from=rss

[Malisk]

Yikes! :o

Hmm, but I'd like to see the same isometric view from another country than USA.

Because these services usually don't have data for the Earth, and then the service wouldn't be much of use for me either.

But since they have the guts to call it Virtual Earth, hm...

I have never seen that resolution on international satellites though on even pay services like Keyhole, and neither do NASA's World Wind have it.

Seems like NASA WorldWind

No, it has neither the same features, or the same resolution.

The only thing they have in common is that they have some sort of map. :p

Edited May 23, 2005 by Jugalator

[Hankyone]

looks better than keyhole, thats damn nice

[jerry]

Holy Batman ! Looks incredible.

Awesome find. (Y)

[SadJoker]

Holy Batman ! Looks incredible.

Awesome find. (Y)

585961747[/snapback]

:laugh: Yeah, nice find. :yes:

[jphillips59]

C|net has some more details on this....

---------------

MSN Virtual Earth will provide a "core set of reference points," such as maps, aerial imagery, photos, consumer and business directories, and ratings and reviews, according to the company.

http://news.com.com/MSN+announces+satellit...16973&subj=news

The service will also include a Wiki-like feature that lets visitors and business owners add information about local services to the database

[Porp]

wow.. AWESOME.. I guess it will be part of MSN Maps & Directions?

[Rix]

Oh My :o

[AQUaDeX]

Yay 45 degrees aerial image rocks, Google Maps seem crude by comparison :D

[NeoXY]

holy....that looks nice....nice find dude...:)

[L3thal Veteran]

Oh man, I can't wait for this program to come out :D

[jphillips59]

Channel 9 has a video posted about this....

http://channel9.msdn.com/

Direct to video:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/4...nnel9_video.wmv

[Inertia]

Wow, that looks so good! I have a funny feeling about it though, I don't think it will look that good...and it don't think it's going to be free :unsure:

585961549[/snapback]

it will either be one or the other, it will be good, or free

imho

[BroChaos Veteran]

damn, if thats what it's really gonna look like, thats amazing. i just hope it's free.